The Cleanup Begins For Storm Damaged La Crosse

A powerful storm sideswiped La Crosse, Wis. on Sunday, tearing roofs from homes and littering streets and lawns with downed trees and debris.

(credit: Peter Thomson/La Crosse Tribune)

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — City crews have started fanning out across La Crosse to assess damage from an apparent tornado.

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Jorgenson says the crews are assessing the structural integrity of damaged homes in hopes of returning residents to their houses as soon as possible.

Jorgenson says about 1,400 people are still without power, but Xcel Energy hopes to have service restored by the end of the day.

Officials say at least 200 homes and businesses were damaged by the powerful storm which hit the city’s south side Sunday. Mayor Matt Harter said the fact no one was killed or seriously injured is “nothing short of a miracle.”

Harter expects damage in the city will be at least several million dollars.